‘Monster’ Hit: Volbeat Tops Mainstream Rock Airplay Chart

Volbeat tops Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart with “By a Monster’s Hand,” which rises a spot to No. 1 on the May 17-dated list.

The tune reigns as Volbeat’s 11th ruler on Mainstream Rock Airplay and first since “Shotgun Blues” led for three weeks beginning in December 2021.

With 11 leaders, Volbeat ties for the 10th-most No. 1s in the Mainstream Rock Airplay chart’s 44-year history.

Most No. 1s, Mainstream Rock Airplay:
20, Shinedown
18, Three Days Grace
15, Five Finger Death Punch
14, Foo Fighters
14, Metallica
13, Disturbed
13, Godsmack
13, Van Halen
12, Linkin Park
11, Papa Roach
11, Volbeat

Volbeat first led Mainstream Rock Airplay in July 2012, for two weeks, with “Still Counting.” In between the commands of “Shotgun Blues” and “By a Monster’s Hand,” the band reached the chart twice, led by a No. 8 peak for “Temple of Ekur” in 2022.

Concurrently, “By a Monster’s Hand” remains at its No. 7 high on the all-rock-format, audience-based Rock & Alternative Airplay chart with 2.8 million audience impressions in the week ending May 8, according to Luminate.

On the most recently published multimetric Hot Hard Rock Songs chart (dated May 10, reflecting data from April 25 through May 1), “By a Monster’s Hand” ranked at No. 25, after reaching No. 10 in March. In addition to its radio airplay, the song earned 403,000 official U.S. streams.

“By a Monster’s Hand” is the lead single from Gods of Angels Trust, Volbeat’s ninth studio album, due June 6. Its predecessor, Servant of the Mind, debuted at No. 2 on the Top Hard Rock Albums chart in December 2021 and has earned 133,000 equivalent album units to date.

All Billboard charts dated May 17 will update on Billboard.com on Tuesday, May 13.